Samuel jones



(No'ModeL) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 s'. JONES. Y PRINTING BLOCK OR TYPE.

N0. 400,.087.- Patented Mar.'26, 1889.

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2 Sh1eets Sheet'2.. S. JONES. PRINTING BLOCK ORTYPE.

.087. Patented'Mar. 26, 1889.

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IINTTED STATES PATENT FFICE.

SAMUEL JONES, OE TRANMERE, COUNTY OF CHESTER, ENGLAND.

PRINTING BLOCK OR TYPE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 400,087, dated March 26, 1889. Application filed April 13, 1886. Serial No. 198,744. (No model.) Patented in England August 18, 1885, No. 9,782.

To to whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, SAMUEL JONES, printer, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, residing at Tranmere, in the county of Chester, in the Kingdom of England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Printing Blocks or Type, (for which appli-. cation has been made in England, dated August 18, 1885, No. 9,782,) of which the following is a specification.

In the printing of large posters it has been usual to out each letter separately. This is very expensive, the type is very bulky and diflicult to store, and in the case of very large letters is liable to injury.

N ow, this invention consists in building up the letters from tesserae or small rectangular types of uniform size, or of multiples of uniform size, so that the same blocks can .be used for the different letters of the alphabet and for letters of a variety of sizes. I find that to make the letters of the alphabet either plain sansceriph letters or letters with ce-, riphswhite on a black ground or black on a white groundrequires from eleven to fourteen ditferent blocks, and by the use of a few more I can make a considerable variety of fancy or plain type. It is not absolutely nec essary that the blocks should be square, as oblong or triangular ones will also answer; but after trying manydifferent arrangements I have found that the system of square blocks with multiples or divisions of square blocks, if desired, is the best.

In order to make my invention better understood, I have shown in the drawings the letters A and B compounded of a series of blocks in white and black, and have also drawn these blocks separately and grouped in order the better to explain my system. The parts shown white are spaced with blocks of the same size, with the exception that they are not so high. I have added outlines of the blocks to show their form and what parts are cut away so as to be below type-height. It will be seen that by simply reversing the blocks a black or white letter will be produced. I have shown rather more than fourteen simple blocks, and also combinationblocks wherein two or more pieces are combined into one compound block, so as to make a very complete set to show a variety of ar rangement of letters. Every one of these could be formed out of those numbered 1 to 11, as shown; but I prefer to cut separate blocks for those numbered 12 to 17, as they will be largely required, and the square will be constructed of one block instead of two. IVhen not cut in separate blocks, No. 12 would be constructed of Nos. 0 and 1, No. 13 of Nos. 9 and 2, No. let of Nos. 9 and 5, N o. 15 of Nos. 9 and (3, No. 16 of Nos. 9 and 7, and No. 17 of Nos. 9 and 8. The Nos. 1 2 5 6 7 8 may be cut in blocks of oblong shape, as shown, or be cut out of square blocks in the former case. A block such as No. 9 or its reverse, No. I), which is below type-height to form a blank, will make up the square. N o. 10 may be a separate block, or constructed out of two blocks No. 0. Its reverse, No. 10, will be cut of one or two pieces, as required.

Figures 1 and 4 on Sheet 2 are perspective views of blocks.

To nicely complete the B, as shown in the drawings, I form the inner rounded corners, a, of the block or type N o. 4 from the set or size of type smaller than the one in use and of which the one in useis the multiple. Nos. 18 to 23 show someof the combinations the blocks will assume in forming the letters. Nos. 24 to 31 show combination-blocks, such as may be cut for the formation of special letters, to reduce the number of pieces. The numbers indicate the primary pieces of which they are composed. A few other blocks or typesmay be found desirable to add fancy turns, comma-tails, and the like.

The blocks can be manufactured from metal, wood, or composition, either cast, molded, or cut to the desired size and shape, and they should be made to fit against each other to a great nicety, the edges perfectly flush, so as to prevent the j ointsfrom showing when printed, and to all intents and purposes to have the appearance of a solid block.

I11 conclusion, I am well aware that borders have been constructed or composed of a large number of recurring pieces or type, and also that it has been proposed to form large solid or ornamental surfaces by means of numerous small types in combination grouped together in vast bunches, and I make no claim.

[or such. This proposition had not to my knowledge been carried to a successful pass at the date of my present application, it? it has yet, indeed, and these small. type had hardly any relation to the shape of the letter or figure made thereby, further than to build it up out of an almost innumerable quantity oi": small types grouped together, so as to roughly form the letter or figure, while mine simply divides the letter or tigure into the fewest practicable number oi pieces, to term it of a tow simple types.

I am aware that it has been proposed to construct printing-blocks in sections having geometric figures produced upon their printing-taees, said blocks being capable of and designed for combination in such manner as to produce various ornamental designs, borders, nniisaics, and the like, and perhaps, in-

cidentally and indifferel'itly, a few letters of the alphabet; and I am further aware that printing-scrolls have been made which might, by caret'ul comiiiination, be made to produce letters of the alphabet. 1' am not, however, aware that any one has ever before produced a complete series of printing-l;)locks having geometric forms, which by proper combina tions will give all the letters of the alphabet. liy my invention this result is attained, and each and every letter is perfectly f rmed, a iesultwhich can only be secured by a careful study of the formation of all the letters, and by making the printing-taces of the blocks to correspond in size, shape, and curve or inelination with the sizes, shapes, curves, and angles of the respective letters.

The invention is designed more partioularl y for the printing ot' bills, posters, &c., where the expense of cutting out each large letter is not only great, but is attended by considerable labor, and when. thus made the types are heavy and unwieldy.

lVhile disclailning the broad idea of a series of blocks bearing different geometric tigu res and adapted to be combined to produce printing-surfaces, what I claim is- 1. A series of printing-blocks each having a printing-surface corresponding in form and size to a given portion of a letter of the al.- phabet, the series embracing one or more blocks corresponding with every part of each and every letter of the alphabet, whereby said blocks are adapted to be combined to produce a printing type or block for every letter of the alphabet.

2. A font of printing-blocl s each of a given size or multiple thereof, and each l'iearing a geometric form corresponding in form and dimensions with a definite part of a letteroti' the alphabet, the fontcontain ing a nu ml )er of such blocks corresponding with each part 01 the several letters of the alphabet, whereby they are adapted to produce, when properly combined, each and every letter of the alphabet.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

SAM U EL JONES.

Witnesses:

.TonN Tiaras, J'osnrja .T. No vn av. 

